Psalm 97 — The King revealed in fire and righteousness — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 97:7
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
Psalm 97 — The King revealed in fire and righteousness
Verse 97:1 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[97:1] YHWH reigns! Let the earth exult;
let the many islands rejoice.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[96:1] Of David, when his land is being established.
The Lord has become King! Let the earth exult;
let many islands rejoice.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek adds the David heading and the establishment of his land, absent from Hebrew. The heading's precise historical situation remains unspecified; no conquest or restoration event is supplied. The earth and islands rejoice in both.
Verse 97:2 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[97:2] Cloud and thick darkness surround Him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[96:2] Cloud and gloom surround Him;
righteousness and judgment are the establishment of His throne.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both surround God with cloud and darkness and ground the throne in righteousness and judgment. Greek establishment corresponds to Hebrew foundation without naming a physical platform.
Verse 97:3 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[97:3] Fire goes before Him
and burns up His adversaries all around.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[96:3] Fire will go ahead before Him
and set His enemies aflame all around.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The advancing fire and burning of surrounding enemies agree. The respective verbal forms are retained.
Verse 97:4 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[97:4] His lightning flashes lit up the world;
the earth saw and trembled.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[96:4] His lightning flashes shone upon the inhabited world;
the earth saw and was shaken.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both portray illumination followed by the earth's response. Greek being shaken corresponds to Hebrew trembling or writhing.
Verse 97:5 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[97:5] Mountains melted like wax before YHWH,
before the Lord of all the earth.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[96:5] The mountains melted like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The twofold divine presence and melting-wax image correspond. Hebrew distinguishes YHWH and Lord; Greek uses Lord in both lines.
Verse 97:6 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[97:6] The heavens declared His righteousness,
and all the peoples saw His glory.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[96:6] The heavens announced His righteousness,
and all the peoples saw His glory.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The heavenly declaration and universal sight of glory agree.
Verse 97:7 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[97:7] Let all who serve a carved image be ashamed,
those who boast in worthless idols.
Bow down to Him, all gods!
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[96:7] Let all who bow down to carved images be ashamed,
those who boast in their idols.
Bow down to Him, all His angels!
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew calls all gods to bow; Greek calls all His angels. The worshiping beings are thus identified differently. Greek also has plural carved images and their idols, where Hebrew has a singular carved image and depreciatory worthless idols.
Verse 97:8 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[97:8] Zion heard and rejoiced,
and the daughters of Judah exulted
because of Your judgments, YHWH.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[96:8] Zion heard and rejoiced,
and the daughters of Judea exulted
because of Your judgments, Lord.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The rejoicing of Zion and the daughters of Judah or Judea because of divine judgments agrees. Daughters is retained rather than silently expanded to towns or women.
Verse 97:9 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[97:9] For You, YHWH, are Most High over all the earth;
You are greatly exalted above all gods.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[96:9] For You are the Lord, the Most High over all the earth;
You were greatly exalted above all gods.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The divine title, universal supremacy and exaltation above gods correspond. Greek retains gods here, unlike angels in verse seven.
Verse 97:10 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[97:10] You who love YHWH, hate evil!
He guards the lives of His faithful ones;
He rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[96:10] You who love the Lord, hate evil!
The Lord guards the souls of His holy ones;
He will rescue them from the hand of sinners.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The command and safeguarding agree. Greek explicitly repeats Lord and speaks of holy ones and sinners, corresponding to Hebrew faithful ones and wicked people. Lives and souls retain the contextual range of the respective terms.
Verse 97:11 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[97:11] Light is sown for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[96:11] Light has dawned for the righteous,
and gladness for the upright in heart.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew light is sown becomes Greek light has dawned. Both extend the promise to joy for the upright in heart, but the sowing and sunrise images differ.
Verse 97:12 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[97:12] Rejoice in YHWH, you righteous,
and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[96:12] Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous,
and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both call the righteous to rejoice and give thanks at the holy remembrance. The Hebrew expression can refer to God's holy memorial name; name is not supplied in either main line.